Self-squaring curtain-stretcher.



J. 0. HOLM'QUIST. SELF SQUARING QUBTAIH STBSIGHBR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 19 1910.

Patented May 16, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

lNl/EIVTUR JZI/I/I 0210106717 ATTORNEYS J. 01'H0LMQUIST. SELF SQUARING CURTAIN STBBTOHEB. APPLIUATIOK FILED AUG. 19.1910;

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1 WITNESSES: INVENTOR F W ATTORNEYS" Patented May 16, 1911.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN OTTO HOLMQUIST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SELF-SQUARING CURTAIN-streamline,

Patented May 16, 1911. Application filed August 19, 1910. Serial No. 577,952.

992 '71'7 Specification of Letters Patent.

to the sections G, C also engage the conrear end of the shank B The loop B or To all whom it may concern: necting plate I. The pivot H connecting Be it known that I, JOHN Or'ro HoLM- the diverging links H and H with the QUIST, a citizen of the United States, and a guide bar G is a distance from the guideresident of Chicago, in the county of Cook way F, and hence when the sections C and 60 5 and State of Illinois, have invented a new C are moved into an extended position as and Improved Self-Squaring Curtainshown in Fig. 1, they move finally into Stretcher, of which the following is a full, alinement with each other, thus standing at clear, and exact description. right angles to the side bars A, A. hen

The object of the invention is to provide a the end bar C is disengaged from the loops 65 new and improved self-squaring curtain B, B, the sections 0, C can be readily stretcher, arranged to permit convenient swung toward each other into folding posifolding when not in use, and to allow movtion, as indicated in Fig. 4, so as to take up ing its side bars and end bars into square very little room when the curtain stretcher position relative one to the other when is not in use. 70 opening the stretcher, to insure proper ac- The end bar E is made in sections E, E curate stretching of the curtain while drypivotally connected with each other by a ing the same. For the purpose mentioned guideway J for the passage of the guide rod the end bars of the stretcher frame are made G, the guideway J being provided with a in sections pivotally connected with each clamping lever J adapted to engage the un- 7 other, and engaged by a guide bar and links der side of the guide rod G, to clamp the to insure proper opening and closing of the latter in place after the sections E, E are sections, extended or moved in alinement with each A practical embodiment of the invention other, so as" to extend at right angles to the is represented in the accompanying draws1 de bars A, A. Diverging links K, K are 80 ings forming a part of this specification, in p v ta ly Connected With the sections E, E which similar characters of reference indiand r p votally Connected with each other cate corresponding parts in all the views. by apivot pin K slidingly engaging a Figure 1 is a lan vi f th t i lengthwise-extending slot J formed in the stretcher; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional g eway J- Thus When the clamping lever 85 side elevation of the same on the line 2-2 18 moved y the p or u f Clamping of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a i ilar i f th engagement with the guide rod G and the sa o th li 3*? f Fi 1; Fi 4 i an terminals of the end bar E are disengaged inverted plan view of the upper end bar from the loops then the Sections partly folded; Fig. 5 is a si ila i f can be readily folded, as indicated in 90 the lower end bar partly folded; and Fig. hg- It being IH B S O d in his connec- 6 i an nd i f one f th h tion that the guide rod G is disengaged from The frame of the curtain stretcher conthe s y When ng e Sections sists of the side bars A, A, and is provided The g y J is attached to the at the upper end with clamping loops B, B under Side of the sections and the 95 lidi ly a d b th d f th upper latter are connected with each other on the end or cross bar 0, and the lower ends of p y a Plate held th Place y the Pivots the side bars A, A are provided with tleett attaching the ghtdewey J clamping loops D, D engaged by the tert0 the Sectlohs minals of the lower end or cross bar E. I is unders ood that by the arrangement 100 The upper end bar O is made in sect-ions C, described, both end bars C and E when ex- C pivotally connected with each other by a tended move into right-angled positions relaguideway F, slidingly engaged by a guide tive to the side bars A, A, S0 that the frame rod Gr pivotally connected by diverging of the stretcher is practically self-clamping. links H, H with the sections C and O as Each of the loops B, B is provided with 105 plainly indicated in the drawings. The a shank B extending rearwardly and passguideway F is preferably arranged on the ing through an aperture A formed in the under side of the end bar C while the top is corresponding side bar A or A, and also provided with a connecting link I for the with a washer B as plainly indicated in sections C, C it being understood that the Fig. 2, the washer -B being engaged by the 110 pivots F, F for connecting the guideway F cam end of a cam lever B fulcrumed on the B extends with its bottom part into a groove A formed lengthwise in the upper face of the side bar A or A. Now when the terminals of the end bar 0 engage the loops B, B and the cam levers B are moved by the operator into active position, then the said loops B, B are drawn downward to clamp the end bar C firmly in place on the upper faces of the side bars A, A. The clamping loops D, D slidably engage lengthwise-extending grooves A formed in the bars A, A, so as to accommodate curtains of different lengths, and each of the clamping loops D, D is provided with a threaded shank D extending through the slot A and through the bottom of a shoe D slidingly engaging the slot A. The threaded end of the shank 2 is engaged by a wing nut D abutting against the under surface of the correspond ing side bar A, A, so that when the wing nut D is screwed up, the loop D or D is drawn downward to clamp the end bar E in position on the corresponding side bar A or A. The shoe D is preferably provided with side flanges D fitting onto the top of the corresponding side bar A or A, so that when the wing nut D" is loosened the loop D or D can be readily adjusted lengthwise on the side bar A, A and with it the shoe D It is understood that the bars A, A, C and E are provided with the usual pins L, on which the curtain is fastened, and the side bars A, A can be adjusted toward or from each other to accommodate curtains of diflerent width, and the end bar E can be adjusted toward or from the end bar C to accommodate curtains of different length.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A curtain stretcher having oppositely disposed bars, each made in sections hingedly connected with each other, guideways held on the said bars at the joints of their sections, a guide rod slidingly engaging the said guideways, links connecting the guide rod with the sections of one of the bars, links pivotally connected with the sections of the other bar and slidingly connected with the guideway located at the last mentioned bar, and a locking device on this guideway for locking the guide rod in position.

2. A curtain stretcher, comprising side bars, end bars made in sections, a guideway for each end bar extending across the joint of the sections of the end bar and pivotally connected with the sections, a guide rod en gaging the said guideways, diverging links pivotally connecting the guide rod with the sections of one end bar, diverging links pivotally connected with the sections of the other end bar and slidingly connected with the guideway at the last mentioned end bar, and clamping loops held on the side bars and engaged by the free ends of the said end bars.

3. A curtain stretcher, comprising side bars provided with clamping loops, end bars slidingly engaging the said clamping loops and each made in sections, a guide rod in alinement with the joints of the sections of the said end bars, guideways extending across the joints of the sections of the end bars and pivotally connected with the said sections, one of the guideways having a slot and a clamping lever, the said guide rod slidingly engaging the said guideways and adapted to be locked in place by the said clamping lever, diverging links pivotally connecting the guide rod with the sections of one end bar, and diverging links pivotally connected with the sections of the other end bar and slidingly engaging the said slot.

4. A curtain stretcher provided with a side bar having a lengthwise-extending slot, a shoe slidable in the said slot, a clamping loop engaging the said shoe and provided with tightening means, and an end bar slidingly engaging the said loop and adapted to rest on the said shoe.

5. A curtain stretcher comprising a guide rod, a sectional bar at each end of the guide rod, one of the said bars being slidable on the rod, means for limiting the movement of the said bar, means for locking the sections of the bars in alined position, and a side bar at each side of the guide rod, each of said side bars being slidably connected to the adjacent sections of the end bars, and means for locking each section to the adjacent side bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN OTTO HOLMQUIST.

WVitnesses:

CHARLES H. HINMAN, HENRY A. HINMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

